Cellulose (C6H10O5)

By Tiffany Petrisko and Nikki Randall

Cellulose Structure

The polymer cellulose is made up of a long chain of the monomer glucose. The length of the chain can vary from a few
that over 1 trillion tons of cellulose is synthesized by plants alone each year—this makes it one of the most common na
 This is a 3D diagram of cellulose with its Beta-linkage

Dehydration Synthesis (Condensation)

Cellulose is a polysaccharide: a polymer of carbohydrates that is formed as many monosaccharide’s (in this case gluco
forms in Beta- Linkage. Dehydration synthesis, also known as Condensation, is when a water molecule is removed “be
Cross-Linkage does not occur naturally in Cellulose. When cellulosed is used in manufacturing, cross-linkage often doe
and makes it harder to break.

For a video of how dehyradtion synthesis works, check out this really helpful video! http://www.coolschool.ca/lor/BI12/u

Nature's Gift

Cellulose occurs naturally and is thus found in nature. One of the most common (and certainly important) natural uses
cellulose is what gives the plants the stability to stand up and grow. Cellulose also occurs naturally in trees—it is the ce
Cellulose also occurs naturally in cotton (it makes up a very high percentage of cotton, estimated around 90%). Cellulo
is commonly used in the textile industry to produce paper and cardboard. Cellulose is also used as an anticake agent,
agent. There has also been a lot of studies done to understand cellulose to help aid the killing of pests (using it for pest

Cellulose is also being considered as a biofuel. Cellulosic ethanol is a type of biofuel that is produced from lignocellulos
fuel; however, the question is, can we (mass) produce it. If you would like more information about cellulose as a biofue
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/your-money/2008/01/11/cellulosic-ethanol.html<span. And for even more info
helping with pesticides, cellulosic ethanol, and more, check out some of the break through findings at the University of
http://news.ufl.edu/2007/02/27/termite-gut/</span><span

Physical Characteristics

Physically, the polymer cellulose is an insoluble straight-chained polymer. It is tasteless and odorless. The polymer is a
Cellulose is also insoluble. Cellulose's other properties depend on the length of its chain. (And also, since cellulose occ

Chemical Characteristics

Cellulose is very stable-- and that is a good thing! Without it, we would not have all the plants and trees that we do!

Many animals lack the ability to digest cellulose -- even many herbivores ("plant eaters"). Cows, koalas, and horses do
the cellulose for them. Termites also contain special enzymes that can digest the cellulose for them. The termite, for ex
mastigophrans, in their digestive system that carry out the digestion of cellulose so their bodies may use it for energy. T
cellulose is digested.
Humans lack the enzymes necessary to digest cellulose. Thankfully, humans do not eat food that is pure cellulose. Hum
vegetables -- ever heard of dietary fiber? Cellulose is part of what makes up dietary fiber.

Another example of animals not being able to digest cellulose occurs in many insects. As of 1991, there were 4 ways in which it was

1. The first is by "protozoan symbionts residing in the hindgut (Bernays, 106)inside This coincides with what was
insect and digest the cellulose for it.
2. The second way is the “capacity of bacteria residing in the hindgut” (Bernays, 106). This is the same idea as ab
3. The third way is by the “reliance upon fungal celluloses, originating in the food, that remain active in the gut follow
the insect eats a food that has fungi (most fungi are able to digest cellulose) and that fungi will continue to be a
4. The final way is much debated in the scientific community “secretion by the insect of a complete cellulose syste
contains all of the enzymes necessary for cellulose digestion, and as you have seen in the above, only fungi an

As you can tell, it is not often that an animal can digest cellulose (especially without the aid of protists or fungi!)
This picture is of the cellulose, and its fibers, in the cell wall of a plant.

Works Cited

American Fiber Manufacturers Association . Cellulose. 2008. 14 May 2008 <http://www.fibersource.com/f-tutor/cellulose.htm>.

Bernays, E.A, Martin, Michael M., Jones, C.G. “The Evolution of Cellulose Digestion in Insects [and Discussion]. Philosophical Transactions: Biological Services.333-1267 (Aug. 29, 1
Chaplin, Martin. "Cellulose" Water Structure and Science. 12 May 2008. 13 May 1008 < http://trj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/31/2/160</sp
Clark, Jim. "Stereoisomerism-potical isomerism" Chemguide. 2004. 13 May 2008 <http://www.chemguide.co.uk/basicorg/isomerism/optical.ht
Decelles, Paul. Carbohydrates. 15 July 1999. 15 May 2008 <http://staff.jccc.net/PDECELL/biochemistry/carbohyd.html>.
Garden, John L. Richard Steele. "Some Theoretical Considerations of Cellulose Cross-Linking". SAGE Journals Online. Sage Publications. 16 May 2008 <http://trj.sagepub
Net Industries . Cellulose Digestion . 2008. 14 May 2008 <http://science.jrank.org/pages/1335/Cellulose-Cellulose-digestion.html>.
Nordie, Tom. UF research: Termite digestion findings could lead to new strategies for ethanol production, pest control. 27 February 2007. 15 May 2008 <http://news.ufl.edu/2007/02/2
"Polymers Up Close and Personal" The Macrogelleria. 14 May 2008 < http://pslc.ws/macrog/level2.htm</span><span
Renewable Fuels Association . Cellulosic Ethanol. 2005. 15 May 2008 <http://www.ethanolrfa.org/resource/cellulosic/>.
Reuch, William. "Polymers" Virtual Textbook of Organic Chemistry.16 July 2007. 14 May 2008 <http://www.cem.msu.edu/~reusch/VirtualText/polymers
Senese, Fred. What is Cellulose. 2005. 13 May 2008 <http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/consumer/faq/what-is-cellulose.shtml></span></span>.

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